Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 22: A total of 4273 cases were disposed off today in first e-Lok Adalat held across J&K and Ladakh UTs and an amount of Rs 11.49 crore was awarded as compensation/settlement amount in various cases.
The e-Lok Adalat was organized in all districts of the UTs of J&K and Ladakh through different digital platform modes by J&K State Legal Services Authority under the guidance of its Patron-in-Chief, Justice Gita Mittal, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and under instructions of Justice Rajesh Bindal, Judge, High Court of J&K and Executive Chairman of the J&K State Legal Services Authority.
The objective of organizing e-Lok Adalats in this COVID-19 times was to achieve the goal of ‘Access to Justice’ for all and to help the poor litigants tide over their financial problems and untold mental stress.
As per the information received from the districts, out of a total number of 5757 cases taken up by 110 Benches in the day-long e-Lok Adalat at various courts across the UTs of J&K and Ladakh, 4273 cases were disposed off and an amount of Rs 11,49,45,449 was awarded as compensation/settlement amount in civil, criminal, labour disputes, electricity and water bills cases, land acquisition, family matters, cheque dishonor and bank recovery cases.
The disposed cases include a smart number of old cases including one 40-year-old land dispute in Bhaderwah which ended in compromise between the parties on the intervention of the Bench.
M K Sharma, Member Secretary, J&K SLSA said attributed the settlement of cases in such a large number in e-Lok Adalats to the Judicial Officers, Secretaries DLSAs, Advocates, representatives of insurance companies and banks, staff of the courts & Legal Services Institutions and litigants for their pragmatic approach.
In District Court Complex, Janipur (Jammu), the e-Lok Adalat was held under the Chairmanship of Sanjeev Gupta, Chairman, District Legal Services Authority (Principal District & Sessions Judge) Jammu and under the supervision of Naushad Ahmed Khan, Secretary DLSA. In all 297 cases were taken up, of which 184 cases were decided and a total amount of Rs 5,79,13,110 was settled in the Lok Adalat.
A total seven benches were constituted. The first Bench was presided over by Sanjeev Gupta, Chairman DLSA Jammu and assisted by Kikar Singh Parihar (Presiding Officer, MACT Jammu) and Tahir Khursheed Raina (Additional District Judge), 2nd Bench was presided over by Nighat Sultana (Additional District Judge, Bank cases, Jammu) and assisted by Y P Kotwal (1st Additional District & Sessions Judge), 3rd Bench was headed by Y P Bourney (SW Judge Anti corruption) and assisted by Virinder Singh Bhou (2nd Additional District & Sessions Judge, Jammu).
The fourth Bench was headed by Kalpana Revo (Additional District Judge Matrimonial Cases Jammu) and assisted by C L Bavoria (Additional Judge, Anti Corruption Jammu), 5th Bench was headed by Prem Sagar (City Judge Jammu) and assisted by Smriti Sharma (Sub-Registrar Jammu), 6th Bench was presided over by 0 P Bhagat (Municipal Magistrate Jammu) and assisted by Sandeep Gandotra (Special Mobile Magistrate, Passenger Tax Jammu) and 7th Bench was presided over by Dinesh Gupta (Special Mobile Magistrate Traffic Jammu) and assisted by Preet Simian Kour (Munsiff Jammu and Slahuddin Ahmed (Additional Mobile Magistrate Traffic Jammu).
As many as 13 civil cases were taken up and disposed off in the Lok Adalat. An amount of Rs 1,65,81,469 was settled between the parties. One compensation case under Land Acquisition Act pending before the Court of Principal District & Sessions Judge Jammu, was taken up and compensation amount to the tune of Rs 70 Lakh approximately, was disbursed to the eight/claimants owners of the dwelling houses acquired by the Government for third extension of the runway at Civil Airport Jammu as per notification dated 26.11.2005 u/s 4 of land acquisition Act. The amount along with interest was transferred directly into the bank accounts of claimants.
Lok Adalat Benches were also constituted at Tehsil Headquarters at Akhnoor, Bishnah, and R S Pura which were presided over by respective Chairman, Tehsil Legal Services Committees.
In Srinagar, the e-Lok Adalat was held under the under the chairmanship of Abdul Rashid Malik, Principal District & Sessions Judge Srinagar at District Court Complex Moominabad Srinagar. Eight benches were constituted to settle the cases.
The first Bench comprised of Principal District & Sessions Judge Abdul Rashid Malik and Suresh Chander Katal (Presiding Officer MACT Srinagar), 2nd bench comprised of 4th Additional District & Sessions Judge Srinagar Haq Nawaz Zargar and 1st Additional District & Sessions Judge Srinagar Rajinder Saproo, 3rd bench was comprised of Additional District & Sessions Judge Bank Cases Srinagar Balbir Lal Jaswal and 2nd Additional Munsiff Srinagar Moneer Ahmed and 4th bench was comprised of CJM Srinagar Gowhar Majeed Dalal and Sub Registrar Srinagar Fariqa Nazir.
The 5th Bench was comprised of Sub Judge/Forest Magistrate Srinagar Manoj Parihar and Municipal Magistrate Manjit Rai, 6th bench was comprised of PT&E Magistrate Srinagar Umi Kulsoom and 3rd Additional Munsiff Srinagar Fozia Paul, 7th bench was comprised of Additional Mobile Magistrate Traffic Srinagar Mir Wajahat and 1st Additional Munsiff Srinagar Tabraiz Ahmad and 8th bench was comprised of Masarat Jabeen (Additional Special Mobile Magistrate (13th FC) Pantha Chowk Srinagar. Adnan Sayeed Secretary DLSA Srinagar coordinated the e-lok Adalat at Srinagar.
A total number of 1675 cases were taken out of which 1253 cases were settled amicably. Besides this, an amount of Rs 84, 95,000 was awarded as compensation by MACT Srinagar and Rs 4, 21,369 was collected as settlement amount by different courts. A fine of Rs 3, 96,400 was also collected.
The e- Lok Adalat was held in the District Court Complex Ramban under the chairmanship of Principal District and Sessions Judge, Ramban, Kishore Kumar who is also the Chairman of DLSA Ramban. Total six benches were constituted for settlement of different types of cases. As many as 243 cases of different nature were taken up in the e-Lok Adalat out of which 194 cases were amicably settled. An award of Rs 16, 50,000 was passed in MACT cases and an amount of Rs 21, 66,200 was recovered as compoundable fine.
In Poonch district, the e-Lok Adalat was held under the chairmanship of Chairman DLSA Poonch Madan Lal (Principal District & Sessions Judge Poonch). Two benches were constituted for settlement of cases. A total number of 103 cases were taken up in the e-Lok Adalat out of which 65 cases were settled by way of mediation, conciliation and compromise. In MACT, 3 cases were settled while 45 criminal cases and 11 civil cases were also decided. A total amount of Rs 21,93,600 was also settled.
In Udhampur district, the e-Lok Adalat was inaugurated by Chairman District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) M L Manhas. Over 86 cases were taken up for hearing in over 7 benches out of which 47 cases were settled in pre Lok Adalats and Lok Adalt held today. A total of Rs 32,01500 were realized in MACT and other cases on spot.
The e-Lok Adalat was held in Reasi district under the Chairmanship of Kamlesh Pandit (Principal District and Sessions Judge) Chairman DLSA. In all 87 cases of different nature were taken up at the Lok Adalat of four benches of which 47 cases were settled and settlement amount of Rs 66.25 Lakh was awarded in MACT cases while Rs 99,420 was recovered in Bank, Matrimonial etc cases.
The e-Lok Adalat organized at District Court Complex, Samba under the Chairmanship of M A Chowdhary, Chairman DLSA (Principal District & Sessions Judge) took up a total of 24 cases of which 8 were disposed off and an amount of Rs 19.50 lakh was settled. Three benches were constituted for the Lok Adalat.
In Anantnag district, the e-Lok Adalat was held under the chairmanship of Principal District & Sessions Judge (Chairman DLSA) Anantnag at District Court Complex Anantnag and in Sub-ordinate courts of the district. A total of 139 cases were taken by 7 benches and till 3 PM, 71 cases were settled amicably. An amount of Rs 31,42000 was awarded as settlement amount and also an amount of Rs 73,800 was realized as fine in 308 traffic challans taken up in the e-Lok Adalat. A total of 379 cases out of 459 cases were settled in today’s e-Lok Adalat.
In Shopian district, the e-Lok Adalat was also held at District Court Complex Shopian under the patronage of Chairman DLSA Shopian. Three benches were constituted to hear the cases through different digital platforms modes like WhatsApp, Group calling, Google meet applications. In total, 71 cases were taken up, out of which 31 cases were settled by mediation and reconciliation. An amount of Rs 14,300 and Rs 2, 40,000 was awarded in NI Act case.
The e-Lok Adalat was also held in district Ganderbal. It was organized by DLSA Ganderbal in the court premises of Ganderbal and Kangan. Four benches were constituted for hearing the cases for amicable settlement. Three benches worked at Ganderbal and one bench at Kangan. A total of 259 cases were taken up in the Lok Adalat, out of which 164 cases were settled. A compensation amount of Rs 4.75 lakh was awarded in MACT cases while Rs 47000 realized as fine.
In Pulwama district, the e-Lok Adalat was organized by DLSA Pulwama at District Court Complex under the Chairmanship of Chairman, DLSA (Principal District & Sessions Judge) Pulwama. In this regard, 4 benches were constituted in the district, two at district Headquarter and one each at Court Complex Pampore and Tral.
In total, 126 cases were taken up, out of which 107 were amicably settled through virtual mode whereas compensation of Rs 6.80 lakh were awarded in four MACT cases. An amount of Rs 14.90 lakh was also recovered in two cases under N I Act, besides realizing Rs 41700 as fine for traffic violations.
Follow our WhatsApp channel